PROLOGUE

Two small figures were silhouetted in the overwhelming, choking darkness. There was an almost calming but eerie glow emanated from each, a bold, but soft blue from one, a shy pale yellow from the other.

Wisdom and Willpower were at debate, each talking in a strange musical like voice.

"There is no hope," Hissed one, its soft but distinctly male voice. "The girl is gone. She is barely aware of herself! We should retreat to Arceus's tower while we still can!"

"No!" A sharp powerful voice rang out and disputed. "There is hope yet! The girl has willpower, stronger than practically any I have ever seen! She will triumph!"

"I have no doubt about her willpower," The other one retorted. "But if willpower can save you from everything, then why is she in this shape? The flame is dead; let's get out while we still can!"

The opposing figure turned away stubbornly, "We cannot fail! We cannot standby and let the flame dim without guidance, Uxie!"

"She already has a guardian, her own pokémon for Arceus's sake! They both are strong, they both have the three we choose, but the girl ends up like this! I know everything, Azelf, and I know this is a hopeless battle." Uxie's harsh voice fell to a whispered. "I know she will die."

Azelf faltered, seeming to bend violently. "When?" He murmured, his eyes glowing in the darkness. "Do you know?"

"No," the voice caught. "But she will."

"But it is not the end of the story."

Both Azelf and Uxie turned to see a third, the voice feminine, soft—chock full of emotion. An almost pink glow came from her, scarcely lighting up an inch of the all consuming darkness. "The story will continue to write," the figure said. "It might be the end of the human her, but I do not sense that her spirit will die. Her comrades will continue on. They will not let her memory die, or her wish fade." She paused, seeming to hesitate- confused by some unknown force. But she nodded, confirming her statement. The shadow absolutely believed what she said.

"Mesprit," The blue glow greeted her and Azelf's eyes glinted in the darkness, barely, and for a second, you could see them… glistening slightly with emotion.

"Are you sure? Is there really hope?" Uxie's question barely rose above a whisper, barely heard by his companions.

"There is always hope."

There was a strange silence, a symbolic one.

"Hope," Uxie said finally, his voice strange and musical. "Is like a single beam of light in the darkest cavern. It might blind the one searching for it in a rush for freedom. But hope is always there." He finished his odd and unprompted statement, as if prophecy. The tense darkness seemed to lighten.

"I will not let her face this journey alone…" Mesprit said softly, if you could see beyond her faint glow- her eyes would have rested upon her paws. "I will set out when the dawn rises. Are you all coming? Emotion can not guide her alone."

"And knowledge will kindle the flame always. I will join you… even if it leads to my destruction," Uxie said firmly, his mind had obviously been changed by Mespirt's moving speech.

"Willpower will be by her side always, I will come," Azelf agreed, his blue glow shifting as he nodded.

"Then the flame has a chance…" Uxie murmured softly… sounding almost surprised.

"The flame has always had a chance, my dear brother."